Susan F. (scoutmomskf) -
Terrific conclusion to the series. The Harper sisters' business, Elegant Occasions, is doing a booming business with its event planning and matchmaking services. Verity's sisters, Diana and Eliza, found their matches in the previous books. Verity isn't interested in a match for herself. Between an earlier betrayal and her parents' scandalous behavior, she has trust issues and feels she is better off on her own.
Rafe is an army officer who is also a spy. He has a reputation as a chameleon whose disguises can get him anywhere undetected. His mission is to find the person providing military information to the French. He believes it is someone connected to the Harper family and is determined to get closer to them. He decides his best option is to fake courting Verity. He doesn't expect the intense attraction that complicates his plans.
I enjoyed watching the relationship between Rafe and Verity develop. Rafe's confidence in his abilities is well-earned, but he's never encountered anyone like her. His attitude at the beginning made me laugh out loud: "He would use Lady Verity's native curiosity to draw her in, and then would charm her into giving up her family secrets...or at least showing him where to look for them. What could be easier?" He had no idea what he was getting himself into.
Verity is an intelligent and observant young woman who never forgets a face. Her first thought when she saw Rafe was that he reminded her of the Phantom, a man who has crashed multiple events over more than a year wearing various disguises. After his introduction, she second-guesses herself but can't let go of the suspicion. She finds him good-looking and charming, but that lingering suspicion makes her wary. But a grand scene at the auction that night wins him some points.
As Rafe increases his attention to Verity to get closer to the family, the sparks of attraction between them grow stronger. Rafe continues his investigation while fighting his growing feelings for her. It was fun to see how being near her scrambled his brain and made him feel protective of her. Verity also feels the same sparks while becoming more convinced that Rafe is the Phantom. I loved their conversations - their banter and teasing were fun and flirtatious.
I also ached for Rafe as he grew closer to Verity and her family. He had a lonely childhood, brought up by his bachelor/soldier uncle, and that loneliness has continued as an adult. Some vulnerability was exposed as he experienced the close and chaotic Harper family life, and he wondered what it would have been like to have a family like that. He also has unanswered questions about his family.
When Rafe rescues Verity from a sticky situation, offering marriage is the only thing he can do to protect her. But he worries about what will happen when she learns the truth about why he was there. I loved the conversation when he revealed those secrets and Rafe's surprise at her reaction. Rafe's reaction to her revelation of him as the Phantom had me laughing the loudest. His shock at how much he had underestimated her was hilarious, but it did bring them closer.
Meanwhile, Rafe is beginning to close in on the traitor but lacks some vital information. I loved seeing his partnership with Verity as they collaborated on what he knew. The resolution came together quickly at this point with an unexpected twist and Verity in danger. The final confrontation was satisfying and believable.
The book had an emotional ending, with all questions resolved. The epilogue was terrific, and I loved catching up with all three sisters and their families.
#netgalley
Rafe is an army officer who is also a spy. He has a reputation as a chameleon whose disguises can get him anywhere undetected. His mission is to find the person providing military information to the French. He believes it is someone connected to the Harper family and is determined to get closer to them. He decides his best option is to fake courting Verity. He doesn't expect the intense attraction that complicates his plans.
I enjoyed watching the relationship between Rafe and Verity develop. Rafe's confidence in his abilities is well-earned, but he's never encountered anyone like her. His attitude at the beginning made me laugh out loud: "He would use Lady Verity's native curiosity to draw her in, and then would charm her into giving up her family secrets...or at least showing him where to look for them. What could be easier?" He had no idea what he was getting himself into.
Verity is an intelligent and observant young woman who never forgets a face. Her first thought when she saw Rafe was that he reminded her of the Phantom, a man who has crashed multiple events over more than a year wearing various disguises. After his introduction, she second-guesses herself but can't let go of the suspicion. She finds him good-looking and charming, but that lingering suspicion makes her wary. But a grand scene at the auction that night wins him some points.
As Rafe increases his attention to Verity to get closer to the family, the sparks of attraction between them grow stronger. Rafe continues his investigation while fighting his growing feelings for her. It was fun to see how being near her scrambled his brain and made him feel protective of her. Verity also feels the same sparks while becoming more convinced that Rafe is the Phantom. I loved their conversations - their banter and teasing were fun and flirtatious.
I also ached for Rafe as he grew closer to Verity and her family. He had a lonely childhood, brought up by his bachelor/soldier uncle, and that loneliness has continued as an adult. Some vulnerability was exposed as he experienced the close and chaotic Harper family life, and he wondered what it would have been like to have a family like that. He also has unanswered questions about his family.
When Rafe rescues Verity from a sticky situation, offering marriage is the only thing he can do to protect her. But he worries about what will happen when she learns the truth about why he was there. I loved the conversation when he revealed those secrets and Rafe's surprise at her reaction. Rafe's reaction to her revelation of him as the Phantom had me laughing the loudest. His shock at how much he had underestimated her was hilarious, but it did bring them closer.
Meanwhile, Rafe is beginning to close in on the traitor but lacks some vital information. I loved seeing his partnership with Verity as they collaborated on what he knew. The resolution came together quickly at this point with an unexpected twist and Verity in danger. The final confrontation was satisfying and believable.
The book had an emotional ending, with all questions resolved. The epilogue was terrific, and I loved catching up with all three sisters and their families.
#netgalley
